NEW DELHI: Those hungry souls whose Parliament session dining options revolve around meals at the House canteen, prepare for some sticker-shock. The old and trusty Indian Railways have given up their side business of catering to MPs and other people. The baton has passed on to another PSU, Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), who are bringing 21st century prices to 20th century food.
Like for example Rs 5 for “roasted papad”. The menu will not tax your imagination, but the price tags could pinch. The Lok Sabha Secretariat released the menu and price list on Monday. Consign to perdition any notion that sponging off the ‘sarkar’ is on offer. You may not be paying market prices, but they’re definitely a lot more realistic (some may even say, expensive) than what you are used to. Onehas to pay Rs 700 for a non-veg buffet thali and Rs 500, if you eschew the animal protein. Looking at the prices, old timers, are liable to remember with a pang the fab ‘Railways’ biryani for Rs 20, though that was quite some time back. But rest assured, you will get a wide selection — from plain dosas to vermicelli Upma, pongal to kachori — the prices and hopefully, the taste, will remain alluring.